piratefiction Chapter 21 Jealousy
Chapter 21 Jealousy
"Junior Brother Mo, Master Ding is an entry-level martial artist at the Stone Skin level. His Whirlwind Blade Technique is only a hair's breadth away from the Unity of External Skills realm," Zhou Xian introduced.
Mo Zheng had already been taught by Zhou Xian along the way that the Unity Realm was the next major realm after mastering the subtlety of external martial arts, and it was also the key to breaking through to the Bone and Tendon Realm.
However, as the saying goes, external martial arts are difficult to master. Many martial artists are stuck at the subtle level and never manage to reach the unity realm in their entire lives.
Even the slightest difference can be enough to limit a martial artist's entire life.
However, everyone has to flatter someone. After all, the other party is a martial artist who has cultivated to the second level of the flesh and blood realm. Mo Zheng is still only in the qi and blood realm. Whether it is out of respect for Zhou Xian or because the other party is so polite, he has to say a few words of flattery.
He laughed and said, "Master Ding's knife skills are so superb. It's a pity that I practice swordsmanship, otherwise I would definitely like to ask him for some pointers."
"You are a disciple of the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall, why do you need to ask me for guidance?"
Ding Kaishan shook his head and laughed. He turned to the disciples behind him and said, "Why don't you come up and pay your respects to your two senior brothers? This is a great opportunity. How else can you get to know the outstanding disciples of the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall?"
The young men and women stepped forward, introduced themselves, and greeted the two men.
After saying that, Ding Kaishan instructed, "I originally wanted to relax with you all today, but since we've run into an old friend, you can go and have some food yourselves. I'm going to have a good drink with Zhou Xian."
The men agreed and then withdrew.
Zhou Xian, not being a stranger, ordered some fine wine and began to toast with Zhou Xian. The two had known each other for many years and, having met again by chance, had endless things to say.
Mo Zheng stayed for a while, and seeing that it was getting dark, he excused himself and left the table early, intending to go to the martial arts hall of Jinqing Prefecture to find Zhao Feng's daughter, Zhao Xiuxiu.
The five hundred taels of silver notes in his hand still belonged to Zhao Xiuxiu, half of which was hers.
The Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall was located in the northwest corner of the prefectural city. Unlike the Shangyin Martial Arts School, it was like a university in later times, covering a vast area. Even from the outside, one could vaguely see more than a dozen buildings stretching out in a row, seemingly surrounding a small hill. There were also two stone lions at the main entrance, which were quite majestic.
This is where the Great Yan Dynasty trains martial artists, so naturally, people are not allowed to enter or leave at will.
Perhaps Zhou Xian could reveal his Six Doors Golden Seal, but Mo Zheng has not yet officially become a member of the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall, so the gatekeeper will have to go in and inform him.
The gatekeeper had initially been rather indifferent, but after slipping him ten copper coins, he immediately smiled and hurried inside to look for Zhao Xiuxiu.
……
Inside the dormitory of the martial arts hall, a woman in yellow sat cross-legged on the bed, meditating with her eyes closed.
The girl looked to be no more than seventeen or eighteen years old. She was pretty, with fair skin and a high, firm bust; she was truly a beauty.
This woman was none other than Zhao Xiuxiu.
Suddenly, a man's voice came from outside: "Xiuxiu, do you have time tonight? How about we go to the back mountain for drinks and moon-viewing?"
Zhao Xiuxiu opened her eyes, a hint of displeasure showing in her clear, bright eyes.
It's that guy again. He never thinks about practicing his skills; all he does is try to ask her out.
She hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I'm sorry, I need to cultivate tonight and won't be able to go out. Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother He."
"That would be a great pity. Would you like to admire the plum blossoms together tomorrow? The weather has been bitterly cold lately, but the plum blossoms in my home are in full bloom and are exceptionally beautiful." The man's voice came again, carrying a hint of unwavering determination.
"The monthly competition will be held in half a month. I need to focus on my cultivation these days and will not have time to go out and play."
Zhao Xiuxiu frowned and said, "I hope Senior Brother He will spend more time practicing martial arts instead of wasting time on these trivial matters of love and romance."
Upon hearing this, the man outside the door turned extremely pale.
All Zhao Xiuxiu knows is cultivation, cultivation, cultivation. If it weren't for the fact that Zhao Xiuxiu is a martial artist at the Bone and Tendon Realm, and his father's strict order for him to marry her, he would have lost patience long ago.
I've already turned down his invitations multiple times!
"Young master, what do you think of this..." the servant who followed him asked cautiously.
"It's alright, Xiao Fu and Xiao Shou, you two keep an eye on her here. If she goes out, come and let me know immediately. Even a strong woman fears a trembling man, I don't believe I can't handle her," the man said resolutely.
The two servants responded in unison,
The man glanced at Zhao Xiuxiu's door one last time, unwilling to give up, and strode away into the distance.
Once she heard that there was no more noise outside, Zhao Xiuxiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The Zhao family has been passed down for generations, with each generation producing martial artists at the Bone and Tendon Realm. They are considered a long-established power in Jinqing Prefecture.
As the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, she held a high and mighty position. If ordinary martial arts disciples pursued her, she would not dare to pester them if she refused.
This one was the son of the prefect, whose martial arts prowess was in no way inferior to that of the Zhao family. So she had no way to deal with this senior brother He who never gave up.
After graduation, I'll go to the county to find my father.
A thought popped into Zhao Xiuxiu's mind: If you can't afford to offend them, can't you at least avoid them?
Thinking this, she closed her eyes again and began to cultivate her inner energy.
However, not long after, a voice came from outside again:
"But there is a young man in the outer room of Zhao Xiuxiu's bedroom. He claims to be your father's disciple and has come to find you. He is waiting outside the door."
Zhao Xiuxiu's expression changed slightly, and she opened her beautiful eyes, revealing a hint of joy.
My father sent someone to look for me?
"Is Zhao Xiuxiu here?" the gatekeeper outside raised his voice.
Zhao Xiuxiu stood up and said, "I understand. I'll go see him now."
The two men sent by the He family to keep watch outside couldn't help but change their expressions upon hearing this reply.
……
Outside the martial arts hall, Mo Zheng stood under a tree, looking at the distant mountains and courtyards. His thoughts, however, had nothing to do with the scene before him.
The path of martial arts is not easy, and his most pressing need right now is to make money.
Without enough money, no matter how talented he is, it's simply impossible for him to break through to higher realms.
I wonder if the Liangzhou Martial Arts Academy has any quick ways to make money...
Just as he was lost in thought, a woman in a yellow dress appeared not far away. She walked slowly towards him, her beautiful face and tall figure making her stand out.
She stepped out of the martial arts hall, approached him, and sized Mo Zheng up and down before saying with a faint smile, "Are you the person my father sent?"
"Indeed, I am Mo Zheng, a disciple of Shangyin Martial Arts School. I greet Senior Sister Xiuxiu." Mo Zheng bowed.
Although he never formally became Zhao Feng's disciple, there was a real master-disciple relationship between them, so it didn't seem abrupt for him to call Zhao Feng's daughter "senior sister."
Looking at the handsome young man, Zhao Xiuxiu smiled and teased, "Don't fight, Junior Brother Mo. We martial artists, with our swords in hand, still have to fight."
Mo Zheng couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this; it was the first time someone had ever joked about his name.
"Let's go inside and talk."
Zhao Xiuxiu said, "Since Father sent you to see me, he must really like you. If I don't treat you to a meal, he'll probably nag me again."
She didn't harbor the same wariness towards Mo Zheng as she did towards other men. Firstly, Mo Zheng was a little younger than her, and secondly, he was just a disciple of a martial arts school in a small county town, so she didn't take him seriously.
"No need, I've already eaten."
Mo Zheng politely declined, saying, "The master of the museum only asked me to come and see you, and to offer this silver note as a token of my appreciation."
After saying that, he took out three hundred-tael silver notes from his pocket and handed them over.
"You've already eaten? That's a bit of a shame. Our food here contains the flesh and blood of demonic beasts, which is quite beneficial for martial artists' cultivation. It seems you won't have that privilege."
Zhao Xiuxiu looked regretful as she took the silver note. Looking at the amount on it, she immediately beamed with joy and said, "Father has been very generous this time. This will make me financially comfortable for the next two months."
Is 300 taels only enough to last two months?
Mo Zheng clicked his tongue in amazement. Sure enough, martial arts was a money pit. He could make two Qi and Blood Pills a month of cultivation in the Qi and Blood Realm, which would only cost twenty taels of silver.
"If there's nothing else, Senior Sister Xiuxiu, I'll take my leave now."
"Did Father have nothing else to say to me?"
Mo Zheng shook his head. Before leaving, he received the letter, but Zhao Feng did not say anything else.
"He only comes home once or twice a year. When he finally sends someone to visit me, he doesn't even write a letter or say a few words."
Zhao Xiuxiu harbored some resentment towards her father, but as she looked at the handsome young man with delicate features and fair skin, and thought of her senior brother He who kept harassing her, a different thought began to form in her mind.
"Junior Brother Mo, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Can you do me a favor?" Zhao Xiuxiu asked.
"Please speak freely, senior sister."
"It's nothing else, I just want my junior brother to accompany me for a walk in the martial arts hall."
Just taking a walk?
Mo Zheng didn't understand his meaning, but this matter wasn't troublesome. For the sake of Master Zhao, it wouldn't hurt to help out, so he nodded in agreement.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiuxiu smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Junior Brother."
The two walked inside, one after the other.
This Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall truly lives up to its reputation as a martial arts academy for cultivating martial artists. Its buildings are extremely magnificent, each comparable to the entire Shangyin Martial Arts Hall. Moreover, the martial arts atmosphere is extremely strong. Not only are people practicing in these halls, but disciples can also be seen practicing external skills everywhere, such as by the lake, in the forest, and along the roadside.
"Junior Brother Mo, when you were training at the Shangyin Martial Arts School, did Father rarely have strict requirements for your external martial arts skills?"
Zhao Xiuxiu didn't wait for Mo Zheng's reply and continued, "That's because you're going to participate in the Jinqing Prefecture Martial Arts Hall assessment. The most important thing is the cultivation of Qi and Blood. However, once you enter, the cultivation of external skills is much more important than the cultivation of Qi and Blood."
"If your external martial arts foundation is not solid, your greatest achievement in this life will only be at the physical level, and you will find it difficult to become a martial arts master. Remember this well."
Mo Zheng had no intention of showing off his profound swordsmanship. In response to this well-intentioned advice, he immediately replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I will keep it in mind."
The two walked forward, with Zhao Xiuxiu constantly introducing things to Mo Zheng.
However, just as they reached a pavilion, a young man stood in front of them, blocking their way.
"Xiuxiu, who is this? Please introduce him to me."
The young man was thin and had ordinary features. He had a long sword hanging at his waist, but his eyes and brows gave people a carefree and nonchalant feeling.
He walked over, his eyes full of provocation as he looked at Mo Zheng.
"Liu Jiang, what are you doing?" Zhao Xiuxiu's beautiful face changed slightly as she shouted.
"It's nothing, I just want to know what Zhao Xiuxiu, one of the four beauties of our Martial Arts Hall, sees in this kid."
Liu Jiang stroked the hilt of his sword and said with a grin, "You and he walked around the hall like this, and I don't know how many of our fellow disciples' hearts were broken."
"I have to show them what's so great about the person you've taken a fancy to."
Mo Zheng immediately understood why his senior sister Zhao had wanted to take him on a tour of the martial arts hall.
It turns out he was thinking of using himself as a shield.
This is no easy task.
Given Mo Zheng's personality, he would naturally not want to do something that would cause him trouble. However, out of respect for Zhao Feng and the several hundred taels of silver he received before leaving, he could not bring himself to turn around and leave.
He said with a wry smile, "Senior Sister Zhao, you've really put me in a lot of trouble."
Seeing that Mo Zheng had seen through her, Zhao Xiuxiu blushed slightly and whispered in his ear, "Good junior brother, I am extremely grateful for your help this time. As for the rest, you don't need to worry about it; I'll take care of everything. After you return to the martial arts school in Shangyin County, they won't be able to find you."
"I will also write to my father and ask him to send you a few Qi and Blood Pills to help you with your cultivation."
Zhao Xiuxiu had a good plan. Mo Zheng would just leave without a trace, and since the disciples of the Martial Arts Hall couldn't find out his identity, she could have some peace and quiet for a while.
Mo Zheng had long intended to help her, so he naturally wouldn't refuse. He said with a half-smile, "Then I'll wait for Senior Sister's letter."
Now that he is highly skilled and daring, coupled with his status as a disciple of the Liangzhou Martial Arts Hall, this little matter is not much of a problem for him.
Poor Liu Jiang was also infatuated with Zhao Xiuxiu. Seeing the two whispering intimately in front of him without any restraint, his anger almost overflowed. His smile froze, and the coldness in his eyes was like a sharp sword, ready to pierce through Mo Zheng.
"Boy, you've been training with that teacher, do you dare to spar with me?!" he shouted, challenging me to a duel.
"Liu Jiang, don't go too far. Who I'm close to is none of your business!"
Zhao Xiuxiu said irritably, "If you want to fight, then come at me."
"you……"
Upon hearing this, Liu Jiang's face immediately turned bright red.
He was no match for Zhao Xiuxiu.
Although both men were masters of external martial arts and were among the best in the martial arts hall, Zhao Xiuxiu came from a family with a strong martial arts background. Her swordsmanship, strength, and weapon skills were all superior to his. He could withstand the first thirty moves, but it was only a matter of time before he was defeated after that.
But the more this happened, the more he wanted to be with Zhao Xiuxiu.
Female warriors are already rarer than male warriors, and beautiful ones are even rarer, not to mention those from prestigious families. There are only a handful of them in the entire martial arts hall.
"Hey kid, stop acting like a gigolo and hiding behind women!"
Ignoring Zhao Xiuxiu's words, he drew his sword and shouted at Mo Zheng, "If you're a man, come out and fight! If you don't dare, get out of the martial arts hall!"
Mo Zheng laughed and said, "If I win, you're not allowed to bother Senior Sister Xiuxiu."
"Junior Brother Mo, you..."
Zhao Xiuxiu became anxious. In her opinion, Mo Zheng was no match for Liu Jiang.
However, Liu Jiang interrupted her, laughed, and said, "Great, pick me up..."
call out!
His words were also interrupted, cut off by a sword.
The sword flashed, its cold light radiating outwards, as fast as lightning, reaching an unbelievable speed.
Liu Jiang just reacted and tried to raise his knife to intercept, but before he could make a move, the sword was already at his neck.
The chilling sharpness made Liu Jiang's hair stand on end, and a fear of facing death rose in his heart.
"Liu Jiang, is it? Looks like you've lost." Mo Zheng said with a smile, "I forgot to tell you, my sword is meant to draw blood when it's unsheathed."
He brought his sword a fraction closer and immediately slashed the other man's neck, the blood instantly staining the blade red.
……